U. of I. suspends clout list

June 01, 2009

Following a Tribune investigation, University of Illinois officials announced today that they have temporarily suspended "Category I"-- an internal list of well-connected student applicants who received preferential treatment.

Officials also announced plans to appoint a panel to investigate the practice and suggest how to make sure in the future that admissions decisions aren't subject to political pressure.

"The review will examine how contacts from legislators, trustees, alumni and others have been managed in the past, what best practices are at peer institutions and what changes should be made going forward to ensure the integrity of the admissions process," according to a university statement.

The suspension comes as the chairman of the state House Higher Education Committee called for a legislative hearing on the clout list. Rep. Mike Boland (D-East Moline) said today he wants to know how long the practice has been going on and who has known about it.

Any high-ranking university officials or trustees who participated in clouting students should resign, he said. "It looks to me like they were all culprits in this," he said. "The university's reputation has been tarnished."

Boland, whose name does not appear on the clout lists obtained by the Tribune, said he was unaware of its existence before the Tribune series ran.

"I was shocked and absolutely outraged," he said. "But now I'm beginning to believe that nothing here in Illinois should shock me anymore."

In a series of articles that began Friday, the Tribune reported evidence that subpar applicants gained admission to the U. of I. with the sway of state lawmakers and university trustees during the last five years. The investigation revealed that acceptance decisions at times occurred over the objections of admissions officers in deference to power brokers.

University officials issued statements last week saying they "mostly get it right," but welcomed the opportunity to address inequities outlined in the Tribune coverage.